Couple are in fear of poltergeist.
By John Hand.
A young Luton couple are refusing to be driven out of their home by things that go bump in the night… and flying in the daytime. A poltergeist rules the roost at Eddie Herbert and Sam O’Reilly’s Crawley Road home but the terrified young couple insist they won’t be spooked by their unwanted housemate. The couple started renting the three-bedroomed terraced house a few weeks ago and have since had to put up with a series of terrifying experiences such as: Sam being “strangled” in her sleep; Bars of soap flying out of the bathroom; Potatoes floating out of the kitchen; Knives and other sharp instruments darting straight at their bodies; Music coming on and off by itself; Drawers opening of their own accord.
Even a spiritualist’s advice to spread salt around the edges of the rooms – in order to neutralise the ghostly presence – has backfired. Eddie, 23, said: “We’ve seen the salt lift up and swirl around the house.”
The couple may be suffering but a friend, who agreed to decorate the house, has even bigger trouble. Eddie explained: “John has been attacked by the poltergeist. It gets really vicious when he comes around to work on the house. We have to make sure all the knives are put safely away.”
The couple started seeing shadows a few days after they moved into the house, which they are renting for £100 a week. Then objects started disappearing and appearing elsewhere. Sam, 19, said: “I thought Eddie was winding me up until I actually saw a potato fly across the room.”
The most chilling moment came when Eddie dreamt one night that Sam was being strangled. He recalled: “I woke up and saw Sam choking beside me as if somebody had their hands around her neck. When she woke up, she complained of a sore throat.”
To check out their claims, a News/Gazette reporter and photographer visited the couple’s home last Wednesday afternoon. Although candles flickered there was not much evidence of a ghostly presence until a cup of milk went flying over the reporter’s shoulder. Sam admitted it had been in her hands but said she had not thrown it. “I just felt it go. I couldn’t stop it.”
When a roll of wallpaper mysteriously disappeared, our photographer reminded Sam that she had rolled it up inside another. It seemed like an honest mistake. “Sorry, we do tend to get a little bit paranoid,” said Eddie.
Music came on and off and there was a definite tapping coming from upstairs but, given the thin walls of houses in that area, that could have been the neighbours. It is more difficult to explain the door at the top of the stairs which kept opening by itself – although cynics may point out that every house seems to have a door which just won’t stay shut. Overall, there did seem to be an explanation for each ghostly incident we encountered and the neighbours may be responsible for a lot of the strange noises.
But the couple, who have nothing to gain with such ghostly tales, did seem genuinely scared so their beliefs should be taken seriously. Asked why they carried on living there, Sam said: “This is a great house, we have no problems with the landlady and we want to stay. This is our first home together so why should we move out.” The couple say their next step will be to bring in a Roman Catholic priest or a coven of white witches to carry out an exorcism.
Luton News and Bedfordshire Chronicle, 23rd March 1994.